The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1887-10-14

gasp as I took him up. Oh, my babyi
my babyp' and she broke forth again
into piteous sobs, and, rising, started
to leave the room.
Lone moment, please" Clarice said,
again OBTAINING her; ''let me go first.
He was asleep a few moments ago, and
the doctor left orders that he must not
be disturbed p"
She left the room, and in a few mo-
ments returned and motioned Eva 70
follow her.
''Be as calm as possible, dear"
Clarice whispered as she left her. As
the door closed softly behind her friend,
Eva stood still a moment at her hus-
bands bedside. His head was well
covered with bandages concealing the
ugly wounds beneath, the eyes were
closed and his face wore the pallOr of
death. Her heart grew faint within
her, surely he would die, if not already
dead; and every unkind word she had
spoken rose up before her like aveng-
ing spirits. How all the old love re-
vived with ten-fold power! He had
never, even in their happiest days,
| seemed so inexpressibIy dear as at that
moment! Oh, if God would but spare
him, lifetime of devotion should
atone for all past unkindness.
A quick sob broke from her, notwith~
standing her efforts of self-contrOl
Richards eyes Enclosed, and with q
| faint smile he held out his hand to her.
Dropping on her knees by the side of
the bed she laid her head beside his
on the pillow while his arm was passed
fondly about her.
30 Dick, forgive mer' she sobbed,
forgetting all her caution. 81 shall
never forgive myself! I'll never speak
an unkind word again, never, never,
while 1 liver The sentences were
broken and disjointed, uttered amidst
sobs and tears.
There, there, DEAR Richard said
gently as he drew her face closer to
him and kissed her tenderly. Then,
with a noble generosity, which seems a
| part of some mems natures, he added
kindly, 81 was to blame; should have
been more thoughtful; ought to have
taken you out instead of going of
alone for my own pleasure. We will
begin anew, now"
He stopped, unable to finish the SEN
tence.
eyes, know! Harry is dead. Oh,
my baby! my babyr' she sobbed.
Richards lips quivered and the heavy
eyelids were pressed upon the pallid
cheeks to repress the starting tears
He drew her closely toward him and
tenderly pressed her tear-stained cheek
against his own in mute sympathy, but
could utter no word.
How very, very dear his beautiful
boy had been to the young father, none
but God might know.
For a long time they were very quiet
Eva's sobs alone breaking the stiffness
until at last those ceased and Richard
said softly:
"Evvie -
Yes, dear!'
How many long months had passed
since she had heard the dear old pc
name from his lips how many more
since she had spoken one endearins
: word to him The sound of them nov
carried them back to the old, happy
: days before harsh words had beer
spoken or unkind feelings held sway
"What do you wish, dear?" Ev;
asked, waiting a moment for her hus
bands request.
Harry - his lips trembled- h
could not go on.
Eyes, dear" Eva said softly, divin
ing intuitively, in her new-found sym
| pathy with her husband, the wish h
+ could not express.
Rising quietly she passed out of tn
2 room. In few minutes she returned
bearing the dead babe in her arms.
= All the violence of her grief seeme
+ hushed into stiffness in the presence @
death.
Seating herself on the side of the bed
she turned her precious burden tender
: Iy until the fathers eye could rest o
: its face, his hands touch it withou
D change of position.
t Never in the full flush of health anC
, infantile beauty had their boy locke
e more lovely than now, as. robed for tn
grave, he lay in his mothers arms
5 The fatal wound had been deity cor
: cealed, and the locks of hair fell owe
n the white forehead in soft, curling ring
K the long lashes of the blue-veine
: lids lay lightly on the fair, round cheek
d the sweet, curved lips just parted wit
d a smile, and the pretty dimpled hand
d were crossed on the lifeless breast.
t Too fair and beautiful he seemed fC
y the coffin-the cold, dark grave.
g The white lips of the young fathe
quivered, and the large tears force
d their way from beneath the tremblin
d eyelids, as he lay his hand on the hea
g of his darling boy. Then his han
fell softly upon Eva's, with a gentl
n loving clasp.
l. "Our darling Harry is safe in a be
" ter world" he said at last, in a voiC
,! broken by emotion. ''And let us, dea
make his death the beginning of ne
life of thoughtfulness and forbearancr
IS each toward the other"
e And Eva, touching her lips wit
u tender reverence to the fair, cold for
y head of her darling, said softly:
d "GOd being my helper, / viii prov
that the death of my precious boy hi
d not been in vain. Jennie Port,
d arnold, ir1 Chicago Journal
70
n MAKING CRIPPl ES